Welcome to the section of our web site that focuses on assisting adults in finding ways, means, resources and a supportive community in which to grow in faith. Here, we aim to provide you with some approaches and resources to help you to grow in faith as a person and as a member of a faith community. We will also work with you to design and implement a comprehensive, parish-based adult faith formation effort. We appreciate the challenge that shifting from a child-centered paradigm of faith formation to one that centres around adults entails.

The Church, in the General Directory for Catechesis, has named adult formation as one of our highest priorities. This office, actively supports adults and all those who lead adults in their search to become more faith-filled disciples and full, conscious participants in the life of the Church. We believe that ongoing faith formation is an essential component of membership in the Church and engagement in society. We continually look for ways to do faith formation more effectively and to involve adults in the whole process of catechesis.

• We seek to form parishes that are vitally and vibrantly alive in the faith. These communities will provide a climate and an array of activities and resources designed to help adults more fully understand and live their faith.
• We seek to accompany adults in their quest to actively live out their baptismal commitment. We aim to cultivate a lively eucharistic spirituality that takes flesh in a life-giving sense of mission and apostolate. Nourished by word, sacrament, and communal life, such adults will witness and share the Gospel in their homes, neighbourhoods, places of work and leisure, and centres of culture.?

• The Formation of Archdiocesan Leadership for Adult Faith Formation. We do this through our archdiocesan Adult Faith Formation series, “Growing in Faith,” and through our formation gatherings for AFF leaders.
• The offering of Faith Formation Opportunities for Adults around the Archdiocese of St. John’s. We do this through facilitating or collaborating with individuals or groups in offering parish or regional retreats, missions, workshops, conferences or other faith formation events, programs and opportunities.?

Supporting Parish Adult Faith Formation Leaders?

Gatherings of parish adult faith formation leaders are held regularly. The Gatherings offer an opportunity for parish AFF leaders and their teams to come together for prayer, mutual support, ongoing formation and the sharing of information and resources.?

Resources for Parish Adult Faith Formation: Resources are more than materials or funds. Our primary resource is people. Our parishes are rich resources for adult faith formation. The faith experience of each adult parishioner is the foundation for their own lifelong learning. The parish forms adult faith. The parish is the curriculum. In addition, we are blessed in the Archdiocese of St. John's with many people with advanced degrees in theology or related fields who offer presentations using adult models of learning. To learn more about available presenters contact 709 726 3660 or go to www.rcsj.org.